Bayer 04 Leverkusen : FK Qarabağ Ağdam

On a sunny Thursday in March, there was to be a memorable Europa League match in Leverkusen...

First, however, they travelled from Cologne to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Schlösser Augustusburg and Falkenlust in Brühl, where they were able to enjoy their first guest garden beer in T-shirts after sightseeing. After a short stop for a Kölsch in Cologne city centre, we took the train to Leverkusen. It was only a short walk from the railway station to the BayArena, where there seemed to be quite a queue at the entrance. However, it seemed that all the spectators arriving were keen to get through the first entrance gate at the end of the route, and the other entrances were then quickly and easily passed.

The expectations of the Werkself were naturally high given their magnificent run this calendar year. However, they struggled in the first leg and only managed to equalise in stoppage time. They naturally wanted to do better in the home game. They certainly had the support of the fans on their side in front of a sell-out crowd but there were also numerous fans from Qarabag in attendance, who filled the away sector to capacity and also occupied a few seats next door.

The game was more open than expected. Qarabag played well and repeatedly posed a threat, while Leverkusen were rarely able to play to their strengths. The teams neutralised each other more and more and so the teams went into the half-time break at 0-0. After the break, Leverkusen seemed to take control at first, but it was Abdellah Zoubir who scored from a counter-attack in the 58th minute to make it 1-0 in favour of the visitors. Leverkusen were now under pressure and stepped up their attacking efforts. When Elvin Cafarquliyev rudely stopped a Leverkusen attack, the referee initially only decided on a yellow card. However, after the VAR intervened, he corrected the decision to an emergency brake and thus red.

However, anyone who thought that the game would now tip over was wrong. In the 63rd minute, Juninho gave the visitors a 2-0 lead after a counter-attack. The away section was now on the verge of ecstasy, while Leverkusen now had to put in a real effort. While the home side now sought their salvation on the offensive, the visitors began to manage the score. The Werkself's first attacking efforts came  in the 72nd minute. then also resulted in the equaliser by Jeremie Frimpong. Leverkusen pressed on after that, but the equaliser would not come.

The many interruptions, especially various treatment breaks by the visitors, led to 9 minutes of stoppage time. The visitors' block was already celebrating victory when Patrik Schick played spoilsport in minute 90.+2 and scored the much-celebrated equaliser. After the draw in the first leg, another late equaliser and the stadium was expecting another 30 minutes of European Cup football in the BayArena.

However, they had not reckoned with Schick, who scored the winner for Leverkusen a few minutes later - it was 90.+7 minutes - a goal they no longer thought possible. The stadium now knew no bounds and celebrated their team properly. But even this jubilation was almost stifled once more, as Qarabag came dangerously close to scoring once more and almost struck again. In the end, however, it remained a 3-2 home win and progression to the Europa League quarter-finals.

The team was celebrated for its performance and fighting spirit. The understandably dejected away fans also congratulated their team on their performance, but that was little consolation for the players. And so ended a European Cup evening that is not often seen like this...